I know we've been down these threads before, I just cannot believe how the mighty interstate system and the big bad highways of Mr. R. Moses were originally seen as the alternative to rail traffic to get product in and out of this NY metro area.
How in the time since these big roads were built the various freight railroads shrunk, merged, sputtered, died, were CPR'd back to life in the name of Conrail, split again into CSX and NS. All during this time the rails rusted and the whole infrastructure rotted and fell apart, or was taken apart and paved over. The whole thing has gone full circle, because now we are looking for alternate ways to ship everything in and out of the area.
It amazes me how tough it is now to get rails laid anywhere. I understand the lines were pulled in the past because of non-use, and duplication after various mergers and all...
This Cross Harbor Tunnel, 100 years ago when RR Barons ruled the land, should have been done.
Then they just did it...
now we have to fight
1. environmentalists (who are worried about killing a blade of rare grass- at the expense of tons of diesel soot on the BQE and Staten Island.
2. contractors, lowballing bids, battling over inferior materials, fighting over unions vs. day laborers
3. battles over Granny Jones' back yard that needs to be condemned for the access tracks
4. politicians, GOP support might be tough to fund this in such a Democratic region
5.the idea that the government is expected to foot this bill, when in the past the NYC bought the High Line through Manhattan, and the Pennsy built Penn Station in Manhattan
6. how the supposed experts will say the low usage of the floats show that there isnt enough traffic to warrant a tunnel...
Why is this country so afraid of progress, and why cant things that need to be done...GET DONE?
We need this tunnel more than the Jets need a stadium.